DO IT FOR DOLLY DAY
Do It For Dolly Day. (Home | Do It For Dolly Day 2025). Every day, young people across Australia experience the pain of bullying. For many, it’s a constant emotional battle that impacts every area of their life.
HORSE HANDLING: IN-HAND & LEAD CLASS ONLY
Targeted for 'unridden' horses. A focus on
- YOUR RESPONSIBILITY - The critical importance of this 'development stage' in a horse's life (i.e. if they are not allowed to become relaxed & confident with Human interaction at this stage, they may struggle to achieve it at all)
- Safe Handling & Developing TRUST
- Establishing human/horse Hierarchy
- Boundaries, Manners, & consistent communication
- Groundwork Foundation - establishing Cues, maintaining consistency, developing your co-ordination skills
- Lunging - the critical importance of establishing the Lunge, maintaining the 'controlled Lunge', ensuring it is always kept controlled & stress-free
- Discussing the importance of TIME, REPETITION & CONSISTENCY
- Desensitization Techniques.......once TRUST is established
- How to develop & support my horse's confidence, i.e. How do I make my horse FEEL?
RIDDEN FUNDAMENTALS & SAFETY, WITH A FOCUS ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE
Targeted for the Nervous Rider, the Nervous Horse, and those developing Riding Confidence.
A focus on
- Basic Safety practices - how do I know my horse is safe to get on? What can I do if my horse spooks? How do I distract my horse from a scary object or situation? What to do if my horse is "rushing"? What to do when my horse is upset, or when I feel 'out of control'? What can I do when my horse doesn't want to leave the Herd? How can I calm myself down & reassure my horse, in the saddle?
- We will learn & practice - Basic 'prior to mounting' techniques; Emergency Stops; Emergency Bracing; Hind disengagement; 'Moving the feet' distraction techniques; Emergency Lunging; Breathing exercises, & Mental confidence tips
- Discussing the importance of "Confident Leadership" & how you can 'fake it till you make it'!!!
- Staying relaxed under saddle - Breathing techniques, singing & storytelling, giving the horse a job to keep their mind on you, not on the "thing" (walk round a stump; back through two trees, the 5m Trot circle, regular side pass, zigzagging, etc.
- Group exercises - 'partnering' to support confidence, advancing away from the group, avoiding separation anxiety & managing 'Herd behaviour'
- Rules for riding in a group, trail riding, & group activities. (i.e. If everyone follows the same courtesies it makes things safer for all)
- How do I develop our Confidence, i.e. how do I make my horse FEEL, how does my horse make me FEEL?
ADVANCED RIDING & OBSTACLE PARTNERSHIP
Targeted for Intermediate & Advanced Riders
A focus on
- Developing Skills & Partnership
- How to give the best, to get the best out of our horses - The importance of Leadership, Trust, & deep connection
- "Whole Body" riding - using our weight transfer, body position, & mental connection to cue the horse
- Transitions, Transitions, Transitions!!! (exercises, patterns & challenges)
- EXCA 'Development Pattern' for Racing
- Obstacle Challenges & the importance of GOING SLOW, TO GET FAST!!!
- Putting it all together for Challenge Success
- Discussing "an honest look at our horse's happiness & wellbeing", i.e. am I 'encouraging' my horse to develop, or 'forcing' my horse? Recognizing the difference could make ALL the difference to your horse
PRICE:
Members (with Membership Pre-paid) - Adult $55 Child $40 (NOTE: This includes Ground Fees)
Non-Members (including Day Membership) - Adult $80 Child $55 (NOTE: This includes Ground Fees)
Gold coin donation $2 for Morning Tea, drinks will be available to purchase and please BYO LUNCH.
Plenty of yards available, no need to book. First in best dressed.
RULES: Please clean up after your horse, i.e. POO & HAY MUST BE PICKED UP & deposited into the Poo Bins!!
AGENDA:
9.00am - 9:15am - Welcome & Introductions
9:15am – 10.30am Groundwork & Warm up
10.30am - 11.00am - Morning tea
11:00am – 12.30pm - Fundamentals
12.30pm - 1.00pm Lunch (BYO lunch)
1.00pm - 3.30pm Obstacle play then equipment packup.
!!!!!!!!! WHAT TO BRING: Bucket for your horses water (water available), halter & leadrope, Carrot stick-optional, Horses hay/feed.
Bring something to share for morning tea, BYO Lunch & Drinking Water.